The meeting "Ukraine + Friends of Ukraine in the EU" was organized by Denmark and was held with the participation of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, EU Commissioner for the ENP and enlargement negotiations Johannes Hahn and the Foreign Ministers of the vast majority of the EU Member States.

Pavlo Klimkin informed on the implementation of the Minsk agreements and failure of Russia and Russian –backed militants to fulfill their obligations. He stressed the importance of reaching progress on de-escalation and creating appropriate conditions for the holding of local elections in certain areas of Donetsk and Lugansk regions to ensure successful implementation of the whole complex of measures envisaged by the Minsk agreements.

The sides exchanged views on further joint steps by Ukraine and the EU to ensure maximum positive effects of the DCFTA, which was launched on 1 January, taking into account the discriminatory trade restrictions and sanctions imposed by Russia against Ukraine.

Special attention during the meeting was paid to the reform process in Ukraine and support that can be provided additionally by the EU Commission and the EU Member states.

EU High Representative F.Mogherini noted the importance of the meeting "Ukraine + Friends of Ukraine in the EU" in terms of identifying further joint efforts to support the implementation of Minsk agreements, to ensure the successful implementation of DCFTA and advancing towards a visa-free regime between Ukraine and the EU.

Commissioner J.Hahn stressed the need for coordinated support for the reform process in Ukraine by the EU Member States, which will take into account the actual needs and priorities of the Ukrainian side in the modernization of different spheres of life.

During the discussion the EU Member States and the EU institutions leadership emphasized the unfailing solidarity with Ukraine in the issue of restoration of peace and territorial integrity. They also noted the progress Ukraine achieved in implementing reforms and the readiness of the EU states to provide further support to our country in this direction.